Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced Friday that he approved an exception to a burial policy to allow a Louisiana Army National Guardsman that was killed in a helicopter crash in March to be buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Florich was one of 11 service members killed when a Black Hawk helicopter they were riding in crashed during heavy weather near Pensacola, Florida.

Because Florich was on a training mission, his family's request for burial at Arlington was originally denied. A subsequent review by an advisory panel unanimously supported that decision.

"Because of the overwhelming number of requests for burials – and the limited space available - stringent criteria for in-ground burials were enacted to ensure that an otherwise eligible veteran or service member would not be denied their right to be buried at Arlington,” said McHugh.

However, notwithstanding, after a review of Florich family's request, McHugh agreed that there was a "compelling justification for granting this request for an exception to ANC's interment eligibility criteria."

McHugh specifically noted that while Florich was training, others who were killed were considered to be on active duty and were therefore eligible for burial at Arlington without an exception to policy.

That anomaly led McHugh to reverse the Army's earlier decision, he said.

"As the U.S. military evolves, reserve and National Guard service members train alongside their active duty counterparts with increasing frequency," McHugh wrote in a subsequent memorandum. "When these service members tragically lose their lives while training side-by-side for the same mission in defense of our nation, it is fitting to afford them the same burial privileges."

McHugh has ordered a review of the Code of Federal Regulations, which governs eligibility for interment and inurnment at Arlington.

"As the cemetery's stewards since 1864, the United States Army has a duty and responsibility to ensure that we are able to meet the needs of eligible veterans and service members who desire Arlington National Cemetery as their final resting place," he said. "To do that, it's important that we continue to uphold its standards and traditions, but at the same time, recognize the service and sacrifice of deserving veterans and military personnel. Staff Sgt. Florich is clearly deserving of this honor and his nation's thanks."